Improvement in scaffolds



G. W. POTTER. Scaffold.

Patent edJunel0, 1879.

WITNESSES INVENTBR i dew/ya Wjbtfier,

vfta rvz ey" N-PETERS, PHOTO UTHOGRAPNEK WASHINGTON. Dr C.

GEORGE W. POTTER, OF SOHUYLEBVILLE, NEW YORK.-

IMPROVEMENT IN SCAFFOLDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,292, dated June 10,1879 application filed February 5, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. POTTER, of Schuy1erville,in the county ofSaratoga and State of New York, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in scaffolds or Plasterers Trusses; and I do hereby declarethatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making apart of this specification, and to the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a front elevation of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same.

This invention has relation to devices known as scafiolds or trusses forthe use of plasterers, masons, builders, or for other purposes for whichsuchdevices are generally found useful; and the present inventionconsists in constructing a scaffold or truss that will admit of itsbeing easily and readily elevated to any desired height, while at thesame time its several parts are so connected to each other that thedevice is rendered strong and durable, also simple in construction, andnot easily got out of order, as will be hereinafter described, andsubstantially pointed out in the,

claim;

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the feet or supports arrangedin pairs, and braced by cross-pieces a. The -supports A at their-upperends are secured by bolts, screws, or other suitable means to alongitudinal beam, B, said beam and supports being firmly securedtogether by the addition of braces c, the upper ends of which aresecured to the beam B, and the lower ends thereof to the cross-pieces ofthe supports. A horizontal rod, 0, has pinions 11 near each y, endthereof, and has its hearings in boxes d, one end of the rod passing outbeyond the side of the supports, and so formed as to receive a key orhand-crank, c, by which the rod 0 and pinions may be rotated. Thepinions b engage with rack-bars D, to the upper ends of which is securedthe horizontal cross-rest E, having at one end a guard or stop, f, toprevent the boards or planks placed upon the rest E from sliding offSecured to-the sides of the beam B, and near each end thereof, are metalplates 9 h, the latter plates being secured to the back UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE,

side of the beam, and serving to retain the rack-bars D in a verticalposition, and prevent them from any lateral strain, recesses bein g madein the back of the beam to receive said rack-bars. v i

The plates g are secured to the front side of the beam, and are formedwith eyes 2', through which passes a horizontal rod, F, provided at oneend with a handle for operating it. To that portion of the rod F betweenthe eyes i are secured pawls k, which engage with the teeth upon therack-bars D, to hold them at the height required.

It will be noticed that both rods (3 F are continuous, or, in otherwords, run the entire length of the distance between the rack-bars D,and therefore both pawls k, also thepinions 11, are simultaneouslyoperated at one end of the beam, which is considered as a great advantage over that class of devices in which the rack-bars are lowered orraised independently of each other, requiring a person, after raisingone r-aclcbar, to pass around at the other end in order to raise theoppositeone.

' Having now fully described my invention, whatI claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, isj The combination of the beam B,supports A, raclcbars D, and rest E, with the rod 0 and pinions I), andthe rod F, carrying pawls 7:, when constructed to operate substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

B. H. VAN BUSKIRK, ROBERT HERMANCE.

